Union Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said on Tuesday that there should be a public debate and discussion before any decision is taken on the issue of a uniform civil code.
Speaking to presspersons at Karkala, Mr. Gowda said that any decision required public discussions and a wide-ranging debate.
On the ‘ghar wapsi’ issue, Mr. Gowda said that the States screaming against reconversion should first pass an anti-conversion law. If an anti-conversion law was passed, it would solve the problems arising out of conversion and re-conversion.
On the public concern in States about the recommendations of the K. Kasturirangan Panel’s report on the conservation of the Western Ghats, Mr. Gowda said that there was no need for worry. The Green Tribunal of Supreme Court had given two more months to the States to submit their reports.
The State government should follow the Kerala model in giving its report. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should take all stakeholders into confidence instead of depending only on officers on this issue, he said.
To a question, Mr. Gowda said that there was no move to ban arecanut.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda would hold a meeting with experts on this issue.
Based on report from experts, an affidavit would be submitted to the Supreme Court stating that consumption of arecanut was not injurious to health, he said.
On the Arkavathy Layout denotification controversy, Mr. Gowda said that the Bharatiya Janata Party would bring the matter to the notice of the people.
Irrespective of whether Governor Vajubhai Vala gave or withheld permission to probe the issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party would go ahead with its own legal struggle, he said.
Ghar wapsi: Sadananda Gowda asks States to pass
anti-conversion law
